Bagpuss - old, fat, furry catpuss - to make a comeback

It is surely worthy of an 'and finally' slot on news bulletins everywhere - old cloth cat Bagpuss is set to make a TV comeback.

The rights to the 1970s favourite have been purchased by media company Coolbai, along with those of the Clangers and Ivor the Engine, with a view to introducing them to a new generation of television viewers.

Bagpuss was created in 1974 by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgagte, although only 13 episodes of the programme were ever made.

The BBC broadcast Bagpuss until 1987, when he was deemed too old-fashioned for the children of the time.

However, the stripy cat seemed to take up a special place in the public's heart, since the programme was voted the UK's favourite in 1999, with Bagpuss himself topping a poll of the best television animals of all time earlier this year.

A spokesperson for Coolbai said there was "significant potential to build on the affection in which this classic brand is held."

Every episode of the programme opened in the same way - Emily, the daughter of a shop-owner, would place broken objects in front of Bagpuss.

Then, when she had left, Bagpuss and his friends - including Professor Yaffle and the pipe organ mice - would wake up and fix the object, going back to sleep when Bagpuss yawned.

Viewers have seen a number of nostalgic characters return to the small screen in recent times, including Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men and Rupert the Bear.